Drake University named a 2014 Best Private College by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Share this:

Drake University has been named to the Kiplinger's Personal Finance list of 100 best values in private colleges for 2014, coming in at No. 37. It is the only private university in Iowa on the list. The ranking cites four-year schools that combine outstanding education with economic value.

Drake University and the other schools included in the 2014 lists represent the colleges that provide high-quality academics at a reasonable cost during these continued tough economic times. The colleges exemplify the attributes parents and students look for in higher education, including small class sizes, a good first-year retention rate, and a high four-year graduation rate. Many schools, including Drake University, have appeared on the list multiple times.

"It's clear that we offer a great value when our undergraduate retention rate places us in the top 10 percent of all four-year institutions," says Tom Delahunt, vice president for admission and student financial planning. “Kiplinger's ranking reaffirms and validates what we tell students-Drake is committed to offering a high-quality and affordable education."

Kiplinger’s rankings measure academic quality and affordability. Academic criteria include the student admission rate (the number of students accepted out of those who apply), the test scores of incoming first-year students, the ratio of students to faculty members, and the four- and five-year graduation rates.

On the affordability side, Kiplinger’s measures the sticker price, the availability and average amount of need-based and merit-based financial aid, and the average student debt at graduation.